WITH the clock fast ticking away, NLEX star Robert Bolick asked for an isolation from the top of the key, dribbled past Blackwater big man Christian David, and fired a rocket of a pass to a wide-open Richie Rodger from the deep right corner last night.
Rodger boomed his triple try and this was followed by another trey by Robbie Herndon after the Bossing last threatened on forward Troy Rosario’s two free throws that frustrated Blackwater’s last hurrah.
Averting what could have been a huge meltdown, the Road Warriors turned back the Bossing 104-87 for their first win in Group B in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
NLEX’s backbreaking three-pointers in the endgame–the last one prompting new Road Warriors coach Jong Uichico to pump his fist in frenzy on the sidelines, spelled the big difference.
While his charges took care of business in their first game of the season-opening tilt, there’s plenty of things left to be desired, according to Uichico.
“I think we defended pretty well, especially in the first half. Noong third quarter, medyo they (Bossing) had a run but that’s just the way the game is. We should learn how to break that kind of a run because it can happen later on,” Uichico, who replaced Frankie Lim two months ago, said. “Na-break naman namin iyong run but still I think we weren’t able to break the run as soon as I wanted to.
“Without calling a timeout. So, it’s good that Berto (Bolick) is with us. He knows how to run the team. He knows what’s needed when things are not going well and he will find a way to break the opponent’s streak, to score or to defend,” he added.
Import Myke Henry shone with a game-high 31 points, to go with 10 rebounds, and three assists for NLEX, while Bolick fell a board shy of double-double with 24 markers, 11 dimes, and nine caroms.
Herndon also had 12 points and two rebounds while Rodger got 10 and three for the Road Warriors.
NLEX’s triumph also added to Blackwater’s early woes after the Bossing absorbed a 97-110 loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters three days ago and fell to 0-2.
The Road Warriors zoomed to a 51-37 edge at the half and pushed it to 84-62 entering the final 12 minutes.
